SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield and the city of Springfield Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED) have received a 2019 Excellence in Economic Development Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for the MGM Springfield project. The award was presented by the IEDC last month at its annual conference in October in Indianapolis.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award from IEDC, the pre-eminent economic-development professional organization,” said Mayor Domenic Sarno. “It really highlights what we were trying to do in partnership with MGM Springfield from the start — create jobs, catalyze private investment, and improve quality of life.”
The Gold Excellence in Public-Private Partnership Award was presented to Brian Connors, the city’s deputy director of Economic Development, and was the only award category highlighted during the conference keynote event. The award recognizes outstanding and innovative development projects that have significantly enhanced revitalizations.
“When gaming legislation was approved in 2011, it was done so on the basis of economic development, economic growth, and job creation,” said Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president. “To now be highlighted by world’s largest organization in economic development is a tribute to all of the hard work done at MGM Resorts and our partners in the city and the Commonwealth.”
OPED’s team was led through the MGM Springfield project by now-retired Chief Development Officer Kevin Kennedy, and also included Phillip Dromey, deputy director of Planning, and Scott Hanson, principal planner.
The MGM Springfield project represented a $960 million private investment, resulting in several new-to-market amenities, including a downtown movie theater, bowling alley, ice-skating rink, four-star hotel, and several new retail and restaurant offerings.
In addition, MGM’s commitment to populate existing offsite entertainment facilities became another highlight to economic spinoff, as did the commitment to $50 million each year in spending with local vendors. The project has created several thousand construction and permanent jobs and greatly enhanced local revenues, which helped fund additional public-safety, early-education, and park improvements.
HOLYOKE — In partnership with Pyramid Management Group and Holyoke Mall, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke plans to celebrate the season by hosting Breakfast with Santa for hundreds of youth and their families. The event will take place on Sunday, Dec. 1 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Holyoke Mall Café Square.
The holiday experience delicious food, live entertainment, arts and crafts activities, and Santa’s workshop. One guest will have the chance to win a holiday raffle with presents valued over $5,000.
For many youth and families in Holyoke, there are very few holiday events to attend because of access and affordability. The families served by the club struggle to afford the holidays and therefore become less connected and engaged with the community during the holiday season. The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke and Holyoke Mall Breakfast with Santa is a new holiday experience, one that will become an annual tradition.
SPRINGFIELD — Registration is open for Springfield Technical Community College’s (STCC) four-week online winter session.
Winter session is an affordable opportunity for all area college students to earn and transfer college credit during winter break. STCC’s winter online classes are taught by faculty experts, with years of experience teaching online.
A three-credit course costs $747, which is the same price for both in-state and out-of-state residents. Additionally, many winter online classes offer free textbooks through STCC’s Open Educational Resources (OER) initiative.
STCC’s winter session runs from Dec. 20 to Jan. 16, with dozens of courses in art history, biology, business, college research, computer basics, criminal justice, early childhood, English, history, marketing, medical assisting, medical lab technician, music, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and statistics.
Of these classes, 19 fulfill general-education foundation requirements and can transfer easily to Massachusetts four-year public campuses through the MassTransfer Block, in addition to nearly any private four-year campus. Visit stcc.edu/winter to enroll.
Academic advisors are available Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Ira H. Rubenzahl Student Learning Commons (also known as Building 19). Individuals may connect with an advisor by phone at (413) 755-4857, by e-mail at [email protected], or by live chat at stcc.edu/contact.
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College campus community filled the Springfield College Athletics bus on Nov. 20 with more than 2,900 pounds of non-perishable food items as part of the annual Fill the Bus campaign, sponsored by the Springfield College Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), the Department of Public Safety, and the Division of Inclusion and Community Engagement.
Fill the Bus is an annual tradition that allows students, faculty, staff, and local community members to donate non-perishable food items to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, German Gerena Community School, and the Springfield College Food Pantry.
The goal was to fill a box with donated food for each of the 50 seats on the Springfield College Athletics bus, as well as a public-safety cruiser, which was accomplished. Donations included canned fruit and vegetables, canned soup, cereal, crackers, granola bars, jelly, peanut butter, rice, and stuffing mix.
SPRINGFIELD — Following its acquisition of United Bank, People’s United Bank plans to close three Springfield-area branches in April, all of them because they are near other People’s United locations.
The closures include the former United branch at 1355 Boston Road in Springfield, the former United branch at 1414 Main St. in Springfield, and a former Farmington Bank location at 85 Elm St. in West Springfield that People’s United acquired in 2018. All employees have been offered jobs at other People’s United offices.
People’s United Financial announced in July it was purchasing United Financial Bancorp for $759 million.
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Balise Motor Sales is giving back this holiday season. When anyone signs up for a Balise Car Wash unlimited monthly plan during the month of December, Balise will donate the first month’s payment to Square One, whose focus is providing opportunities for children and families to build a foundation for lifelong learning.
Located in the heart of Springfield, Square One provides a range of family-friendly education and support services to help children grow stronger cognitively, emotionally, socially, and physically.
Balise is a longtime supporter of Square One, donating $5,000 in 2018 to support its Adopt-a-Classroom program, $10,000 in 2017 to help build a new indoor play space, and $10,000 in 2016 to support the organization’s fitness program, LAUNCH.
Balise Car Wash unlimited plans range from $29.95 to $49.95 per month, with locations on East Columbus Avenue in Springfield and on the corner of Riverdale Street and Wayside Avenue in West Springfield.
“To commemorate 100 years in business, we wanted to launch our ‘100 Years of Caring’ initiative this holiday season by choosing to donate to specific local charities that help children in our communities reach their fullest potential,” said Alex Balise, director of Marketing at Balise Motor Sales.
Balise Chief Operating Officer Ben Sullivan added that “I can’t think of a better way to give back during the holidays than by helping children in our local communities who need it the most.”
Kristine Allard, vice president of Development & Communications for Square One, relayed her thanks to Balise.
“We are so grateful to the team at Balise for all they have done to support Square One’s work with children and families,” she said. “Their corporate support has had a tremendous impact on our programs and services for many years. Now, by encouraging their customers to support us through their holiday campaign, they are raising the bar even higher.”
AGAWAM — Jean Deliso, CFP has been named a member of the 2019 Chairman’s Council of New York Life. Members of the Chairman’s Council rank in the top 3% of New York Life’s elite sales force of more than 12,000 licensed agents in sales achievement. She has accomplished this level of achievement for eight consecutive years.
Deliso has been a New York Life agent since 1995 and is associated with New York Life’s Connecticut Valley General Office in Windsor, Conn. She is a Nautilus Group member, an exclusive, advanced planning resource for estate-conservation and business-continuation strategies.
She is president and owner of Deliso Financial and Insurance Services, a firm focusing on comprehensive financial strategies that help position clients for a solid financial future. She has been working in the financial field for more than 30 years, her first seven in public accounting and the balance working in the financial-services industry.
Deliso has developed an expertise in assisting business owners and individuals protecting and securing their and their family’s future. Her extensive experience has led to a focus in certain fields, such as cash and risk management, investment, retirement, and estate planning. She is committed to educating individuals regarding their finances and frequently conducts workshops advocating financial empowerment.
Deliso currently serves on and has held chairman of the board positions at Baystate Health Foundation, the Community Music School of Springfield, and the YMCA of Greater Springfield. She is also a former board member of Pioneer Valley Refrigerated Warehouse, a former trustee of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, and a member of the Bay Path University advisory board.
NORTHAMPTON — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union introduced its newest branch location at the Northampton VA Medical Center. As of October, the Northampton VAF Federal Credit Union has formally merged with UMassFive College Federal Credit Union, and former Northampton VAF members have transitioned to banking with UMassFive. With this merger, current employees of the Northampton VA Medical Center and their immediate family members are now eligible for UMassFive membership.
Along with the merger, the existing credit-union branch located in Building 1, Room B204 of the Northampton VA Medical Center has been completely renovated. The new, open floor plan includes seated service areas where UMassFive representatives can provide members access to a range of credit-union products and services, including checking, auto loans, home-equity loans, solar loans, mortgages, credit cards, and investment guidance.
The space also now features a video teller machine that can be accessed in the branch entryway, and allows members to perform video transactions with UMassFive tellers, even while the branch is closed. As with other UMassFive locations, members at the Northampton VA branch will have access to free financial workshops on topics like budgeting essentials, homebuying, identity theft, and planning for retirement.
The hours for this new UMassFive branch are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Off-hours access to the lobby video teller machine are available when the building and basement are open, and during regular video-teller hours. Any credit or debit card may be swiped for after-hours entry.
SPRINGFIELD — Eleven years ago, BusinessWest created a new recognition program called Difference Makers. That carefully chosen name sums up what this initiative is all about — identifying and then celebrating individuals, groups, and agencies in this region that are making a difference in our communities. And now, it’s time to nominate candidates for the class of 2020.
Nominations must be submitted by Dec. 6. The nomination form can be found by clicking here.
As previous classes have shown, there are many ways to be a Difference Maker: through work within the community on one or many initiatives to improve quality of life; through success in business, public service, or education; through contributions that inspire others to get involved; through imaginative efforts to help solve one or more societal issues; or through a combination of the above. Those nominating candidates are encouraged to make their submissions detailed and explain why the individual or group in question is a true Difference Maker. For a full list of previous winners, click here.
SPRINGFIELD — Deborah Bitsoli has been named president of Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates, effective Dec. 2. In this role, she will be responsible for the operational performance of Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates; provide leadership in the execution, management, financial performance, and oversight of all operations; and explore opportunities for growth through strategic development initiatives.
“Deborah is a respected, visionary leader with extensive experience in healthcare operations. Her dedication to our mission and tremendous enthusiasm, in combination with her focus on quality, safety, and growth, will serve Mercy and the Greater Springfield community well,” said Paul Mancinone, board chair of Mercy Medical Center.
Bitsoli joins Mercy with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry and has spent the last 18 years in leadership roles. Most recently, she served as president of Morton Hospital, a 110-bed facility in Taunton. Prior to her tenure there, she was chief operating officer and executive vice president at Saint Vincent Hospital, a 270-bed facility in Worcester.
“Deborah is a strong, strategic leader with deep ties to healthcare in Massachusetts, and we are thrilled she has joined the Trinity Health Of New England team to lead our ongoing transformation at Mercy,” said Dr. Reginald Eadie, president and CEO of Trinity Health Of New England.
Bitsoli holds an MBA from Babson College in Wellesley and a bachelor’s degree in accountancy with a management minor from Bentley University in Waltham. She is a certified public accountant in the state of Massachusetts and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
SPRINGFIELD — For people seeking greater community engagement and for nonprofit boards hoping to add fresh talent and diversity to their membership, the sixth biennial “Get On Board!” event happening Tuesday, Dec. 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame offers an opportunity to accomplish both goals.
OnBoard is a volunteer-led nonprofit that connects talented individuals with organizations seeking to increase diversity on their boards and committees by expanding their governance capacity and enlisting women, people of color, and other underrepresented populations.
The event blends aspects of a job fair and speed dating to match potential members and organizations. Attendees can meet with representatives from their choice of a half-dozen or more organizations. The nonprofits’ representatives will discuss their history, mission, and goals, as well as their desired qualities in potential board members. Attendees can ask questions and share their interests and skills to make a potential match. A buzzer helps to keep things moving, limiting meetings to 10 minutes. Participants will also enjoy networking opportunities and free hors d’oeuvres.
“Our goal is to offer organizations a larger and more diverse pool of excellent candidates for their boards. We create new relationships for both the individuals and the organizations who will benefit from each other’s resources and experience,” said attorney Ellen Freyman, OnBoard founder.
This year, Leadership of Pioneer Valley (LPV) is partnering with OnBoard as a co-presenter of the event. LPV has built a network of emerging leaders to address the challenges and opportunities of the region, combining both classroom and hands-on, experiential learning at locations throughout the Valley.
Get On Board! organizers expect about 50 organizations and 150 to 200 individuals at the event, which is free and open to members of the public who would like to volunteer on a board. There is a small $100 fee for participating nonprofit organizations. Attendees and nonprofits looking to register can visit diversityonboard.net. Organizers are also seeking sponsors for the event, and those interested can e-mail Freyman at [email protected].
HOLYOKE — Registration is now open for Wintersession 2020 at Holyoke Community College (HCC), where new and returning students — as well as students from other colleges home on holiday break — can earn a semester’s worth of credits for a single class in just 10 days.
Wintersession — previously called Intersession at HCC — begins Monday, Jan. 6, and ends Friday, Jan. 17. Students can earn from one to four credits by taking a single Wintersession course that lasts from five to 10 days.
“Wintersession at HCC is a great way to earn course credits in a short amount of time,” said Mark Hudgik, HCC’s director of Admissions. “With online and on-campus options, you can use them to get ahead or to get back on track and still have some time to relax during winter break.”
HCC is offering 26 courses during Wintersession 2020 in 17 different academic areas: anthropology, business administration, communication, economics, education, environmental science, general studies, geography, law, management, marketing, mathematics, nutrition, psychology, social science, sociology, and sustainability. For schedules and full course descriptions or to enroll in Wintersession 2020, visit www.hcc.edu/wintersession.
The HCC Admissions office on the first floor of the HCC Campus Center (CC 148) is open Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admissions counselors are available for drop-in or scheduled appointments. To schedule a time, call (413) 552-2321 or e-mail [email protected].
Academic advisers are available in the Advising, Career and Transfer Center (CC 103) for drop-in or scheduled appointments during the same hours. Call (413) 552-2722 or e-mail [email protected].
SPRINGFIELD — United Personnel announced it has been named one of the top 100 women-led businesses in Massachusetts by the Commonwealth Institute, a nonprofit that supports female business owners. The list, published in the Boston Globe, was developed based on revenue, number of full-time employees in the state, team diversity, and innovation.
The rankings feature a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, business services, healthcare, education, human services, and retail. United Personnel was number 75 on the list, and was one of only two companies based in Western Mass. represented.
Focused on helping to connect people with job openings at local companies, United Personnel has seen decades of success as a women-led organization. Founded by Mary Ellen Scott in 1984 with her late husband, Jay Canavan, United Personnel is now on its second generation of female leadership under President Tricia Canavan.
“We are very proud and honored to be recognized among such a strong group of businesses, and of women leaders,” Canavan said. “We are committed to continuing to contribute to the development of leadership among our own employees, and also among our clients who are looking to connect with diverse leadership talent, or diverse candidates seeking careers where they will be able to employ and develop their talents.”
NORTHAMPTON — Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Western Massachusetts and presenting sponsor MedExpress Urgent Care will host the annual GOTR 5K celebration on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 10:30 a.m. at Smith College.
The 5K event is open to the public. Event-day registration is available for $30. Approximately 1,600 runners are expected to participate.
The mission of Girls on the Run is to inspire girls to be healthy, joyful, and confident. Girls on the Run is a positive, physical-activity-based, youth-development program that uses fun running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in grades 3 to 8. During the 10-week program, girls participate in lessons that foster confidence, build peer connections, and encourage community service while they prepare for an end-of-season celebratory 5K event.
The event begins on the Smith athletic fields and goes through the Smith College campus. The run will begin at 10:30 a.m., but festivities, including a group warmup and games, will begin at 10 a.m. Early arrival is strongly suggested.
Registration is available online at www.girlsontherunwesternma.org. The pre-registration cost is $25 for adults and $10 for children and includes a GOTR 5K event shirt. Registration will also be open the day of the event beginning at 9 a.m. For more information about the event, how to register, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.girlsontherunwesternma.org.
Event supporters include Scout Curated Wears, Cooley Dickinson Medical Group – Women’s Health, Holyoke Gas and Electric, Marisa Labozzetta and Martin Wohl, Mill 180 Park, PeoplesBank, People’s United Bank, River Valley Counseling Center, RunReg, Smith College, and Synergy Physical Therapy.
ENFIELD, Conn. — Registration for Wintersession and the spring semester at Asnuntuck Community College (ACC) is now open.
Asnuntuck offers on-the-spot admission Monday through Friday. Students may apply or register online 24 hours a day at www.asnuntuck.edu. Students may register in person at the Registrar’s office Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Academic advisors are available for walk-ins on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. All other times are by appointment only. E-mail [email protected] for additional information.
Wintersession is available to current students, new students, and students home on break from their four-year school. Students intending to transfer credits should confirm with their college that the course will be approved before registering. Online classes for Wintersession run from Dec. 27 to Jan. 14. Courses are available in art, nutrition, genetics, business, software applications, human services, early childhood, medical law and ethics, psychology, sociology, and a course titled “Minorities in the U.S.”
Not a student? Visit www.asnuntuck.edu and click ‘become a student’ to get started.
ACC’s spring semester begins on Jan. 22. All student services will be available on Saturday, Jan. 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., including the cashier’s office, for those interested in registering for classes. Accuplacer placement testing will be administered to admitted students at 10 a.m. Admitted students need to pre-register for the testing. Students can register online or in person at the Admissions Office.
For those unable to make it on Jan. 11, extended hours will be available at the college on Jan. 21, 22, and 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Call (860) 253-3010 or visit www.asnuntuck.edu for additional information.
For those who need help completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form for the spring semester, walk-in sessions in the Financial Aid Office are available 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays during December. For an individual appointment, call (860) 253-3030.
SPRINGFIELD — In celebration of the firm’s 10th anniversary, Ryan Alekman and Rob DiTusa of Alekman DiTusa are issuing a giving challenge to fellow attorneys this holiday season.
A longtime supporter of the Springfield-based nonprofit organization Square One, the firm has pledged $10,000 in support of Square One to commemorate this landmark year. The partners are challenging their peers at other law firms to join them by making a donation of their own. The goal for the challenge is to turn their $10,000 into $50,000 from others in the legal community.
“Square One’s programs and services play a vital role in positioning children and families for success in school and in the workplace,” DiTusa said. “We have long recognized the importance of what they do, and we are confident that our colleagues will feel the same way.”
Added Alekman, “our partnership with Square One has reinforced our understanding and appreciation for the critical role that high-quality early education and care plays in the foundation of every child’s life. It is particularly important for children and families who are faced with the difficult circumstances that many of Square One’s families are experiencing.”
Square One currently provides early-learning services to over 500 infants, toddlers, and school-age children each day, and family-support services to 1,500 families each year, as it works to overcome the significant challenges in their lives. The large majority of Square One families are coming from situations involving poverty, homelessness, food insecurity, incarceration, substance abuse, domestic violence, and other significant issues that may inhibit their ability to provide a quality early-learning experience for their children, if the proper services are not made available to them.
“Rob and Ryan understand and appreciate how we leverage every dollar we receive,” said Kristine Allard, vice president of Development & Communication for Square One. “We can turn a $20 donation into breakfast and lunch for a child for a full week, for example. Every $250 donation provides classroom supplies for a preschooler for a full year. Turning Alekman DiTusa’s $10,000 gift into $50,000 will literally change the lives of thousands of children and families. We are so grateful for this opportunity.”
BOSTON — The state’s October total unemployment rate remained at 2.9%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts added 10,300 jobs in October. Over the month, the private sector added 10,800 jobs as gains occurred in education and health services; professional, scientific, and business services; trade, transportation, and utilities; manufacturing; other services; leisure and hospitality; information; and construction. From October 2018 to October 2019, BLS estimates Massachusetts added 51,700 jobs.
The October unemployment rate was seven-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.6% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
“Preliminary estimates indicate that the Massachusetts economy has added 45,400 jobs since the beginning of the year, with the bulk of the job gains having come from key economic areas like education and health services as well as professional, scientific, and business services,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta said. “The statewide unemployment rate has remained at or below 3% for nine consecutive months, and the 12-month average unemployment rate for black residents of the Commonwealth dropped below 4% for the first time since the recession.”
The labor force increased by 5,600 from 3,839,900 in September, as 5,800 more residents were employed and 200 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.
Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point.
The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — increased by one-tenth of a point over the month to 67.7%. Compared to October 2018, the labor-force participation rate is down two-tenths of a percentage point.
The largest private-sector percentage job gains over the year were in education and health services; other services; information; and professional, scientific, and business services.
SPRINGFIELD — Dietz & Co. Architects Inc. announced the addition of Yvonne Cruz, RA to its staff as a senior project architect.
Cruz holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Pratt Institute, School of Architecture in Brooklyn, N.Y. and is a licensed architect in New York and Connecticut. She brings more than 20 years of experience to Dietz & Co., having worked for firms in New York City throughout her career. She has worked on an array of residential projects as well as many hotel and restaurant projects. She brings to the firm a commitment to high-quality design and a passion for mentoring junior staff members.
CHICOPEE — The Good Dog Spot, with locations in Chicopee and Northampton, is bringing its Spots Tots program to the Chicopee location. The program is designed to help puppies get ready for the daycare environment and the world around them. The Spots Tots program also provides socialization, exposure to new things, and careful handling during the dogs’ most impressionable developmental period.
This unique puppy-training program, which has been offered in the Northampton location, will now also be open in the Chicopee location on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
“We are so excited to see our Spots Tots puppy program expand into our Chicopee facility and serve those in Chicopee and surrounding towns,” said Elizabeth Staples, owner of the Good Dog Spot. “It’s a great opportunity to help puppies socialize, play, and develop into well-mannered dogs. We’ve witnessed first-hand in Northampton the positive effects when a pup graduates from Spots Tots into our day-care program or returns for a routine grooming appointment. We even provide puppy parents with a daily report card to take home.”
CHICOPEE — For the second year in a row, Yankee Home is engaging customers in a pay-it-forward event to provide food for those in need this holiday season. For every non-perishable food item donated, Yankee Home will give customers 1% off the cost of their home-improvement service, up to 10%.
All food items will be donated to Rachel’s Table, a program of the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts that works to eliminate hunger and reduce food waste in the community.
“Last year, we were able to help a lot of folks in need at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry,” said Yankee Home President Ger Ronan. “We’re excited to do it again this year for Rachel’s Table, especially after we learned that they work with Lorraine’s and other organizations in the area. It’s a great opportunity for us provide our customers with an added incentive to join us in giving back to the community.”
Ronan came to the U.S. from Ireland in 1982 with $80 in his pocket. He worked a series of jobs and experienced a period of homelessness himself as he worked his way up the ladder toward owning his own business.
Through the end of December, Yankee Home will be accepting non-perishable food items Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at its 36 Justin Dr. headquarters in Chicopee. While the discount is capped at 10% of the total cost of the service, people are encouraged to donate as much as they can. The discount applies to installed, new work only. A Yankee Home specialist can provide complete details.
SPRINGFIELD — Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) recently welcomed Michelle Barthelemy of Greenfield Community College, Calvin Hill of Springfield College, Gladys Lebron-Martinez of MassHire Holyoke and the Holyoke City Council, Callie Niezgoda of Common Capital, Tony Maroulis of UMass Amherst, and Yemisi Oloruntola-Coates of Baystate Health to its board of directors. In addition, Francia Wisnewski has been elected clerk.
Each brings a passion for both the work of the organization and the continued success of the Pioneer Valley, said Lora Wondolowski, LPV Executive Director. “We are delighted to have these dynamic community leaders join us. They will bring important skills and experience to the board and will help to fulfill our mission of building and connecting more diverse, committed, and effective leadership for the Pioneer Valley.”
SPRINGFIELD — Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAi) announced that James Garvey, a digital marketing analyst with the company, has recently earned a digital marketing certificate from Cornell University’s online certification program.
“I viewed it as a retreat of sorts where I could isolate the tactical and focus on overall strategy development,” Garvey said. “In turn, our emphasis has now become working with our clients to identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) prior to planning the tactical considerations. It sounds simple, but tactical is always the shiny object. Which platform to use and what creative often takes precedent over what the actual objective is. That tendency underserves the client and the potential of digital marketing, and is something we are working hard to avoid.”
According to Cornell University, the objectives of the program are to learn and implement proven frameworks, assess opportunities and strategies associated with leading channels, and create integrated digital-marketing plans based on priorities and resources.
Garvey suggested there are other takeaways GCAi is now using in its digital-marketing approach. “We are really ramping up our framework for measuring and reporting success metrics — something that is more attainable and accurate given our concentration on front-end KPI setting. Two focuses that I found most thought-provoking were the potential to leverage owned media and the benefits of A/B testing on digital platforms.
“On the other hand, one thing that I was not enamored with was the push for the one-platform-serves-all digital-marketing emphasis,” he went on. “Having worked in digital marketing since basically its start, we have seen management platforms come and go and believe to this day that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, and direct platform management is the most powerful and generates the best results.”
Underscoring a key component of the eCornell program, Garvey spent last winter researching and writing some of his coursework from Santa Monica Pier, not navigating the frozen Ithaca campus.
HAMPDEN — The Starting Gate at GreatHorse will host a holiday party — including decorations, music, and menu — on Saturday, Dec. 14 for any company or group that wants to take part.
Attendees can enjoy dinner and dance the night away with staff, co-workers, family, and friends — an ideal option for small businesses. The Clark Eno Orchestra will be playing today’s hits and rock and pop songs from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and beyond, plus big band, swing, and Motown.
The event is open to the public for $95 per person. A cash bar will be available. For reservations, call (413) 566-5158.
WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Hampden County Bar Foundation and the Dante Club will hold a Chili Cook-off fundraising event on Sunday, Nov. 17 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Dante Club, 1198 Memorial Ave., West Springfield.
All proceeds from this event will benefit the Hampden County Bar Foundation and the Dante Club Scholarships Inc. The Hampden County Bar Foundation funds the Colonel Archer B. Battista Veterans Scholarship, the John F. Moriarty Scholarship, the Hampden County Legal Clinic, and the Children’s Law Project.
Tasting tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 10, and are available to purchase at the door. For more information and to register, visit www.hcbar.org.
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) recently welcomed Rachel Rubinstein as its first vice president of Academic and Student Affairs.
Prior to her arrival, Rubinstein spent 16 years at Hampshire College in Amherst, where she was a professor of American Literature and Jewish Studies and from 2010 to 2018 served as dean of Academic Support and Advising.
At HCC, Rubinstein will oversee the divisions of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs in what is a newly unified role at the college.
“As dean of Academic Support and Advising at Hampshire, I was working with the entire school, across the curriculum, on student success and support,” Rubinstein said. “I worked with struggling students, and I worked with transfer students from community colleges, so the idea of a struggling student who is having academic issues not necessarily because they are underprepared but because of the challenges in their lives impinging on their ability to learn is familiar to me.”
The combined position is one of the features that attracted her to HCC.
“I think most of the community colleges in Massachusetts have this model, and I think the alignment is so necessary,” she said. “What faculty are asked to do these days is very taxing because it’s not just about teaching anymore. It’s about advising. It’s about mentoring. It’s about student support. The issues that students are dealing with are tremendous, and faculty need help. These issues can’t be solved by just Academic Affairs. They also can’t be solved by Student Affairs. It has to be a coordinated effort.”
Rubinstein holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Yale University and a Ph.D. from the Department of English and American Literature and Language at Harvard University.
A child of Mexican-born, Jewish immigrants, she grew up in a Spanish-speaking household and also studied Yiddish. Her academic studies, professional scholarship, and teaching have largely focused on immigration, migration, and multi-lingualism.
“The other thing that attracted me to HCC was Holyoke,” she said. “The prospect of being at an HSI [Hispanic-serving institution] was really appealing to me. Holyoke has a really deep history as a city of immigrants, and literature of immigration is what I do.”
Rubinstein was the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship and a Whiting Foundation Travel Fellowship. She has taught at Smith College and Mount Holyoke College and also taught adult learners and high-school students through community organizations including the Jones Library and the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst.
Her scholarly work includes two co-edited volumes, Arguing the Modern Jewish Canon: Essays on Literature and Culture in Honor of Ruth R. Wisse and the forthcoming Teaching Jewish-American Literature. She is the author of Members of the Tribe: Native America in the Jewish Imagination, which earned a Jordan Schnitzer Book Award honorable mention.
SPRINGFIELD — Smith & Wesson plans to separate from the outdoor products and accessories businesses of American Outdoor Brands Corp. (AOBC). Smith & Wesson changed its name to American Outdoor Brands in 2016.
Instead, the organization will include two separate companies: Smith & Wesson Brands Inc., which will encompass the firearms business, and American Outdoor Brands Inc., which will include the outdoor products and accessories businesses.
“There have been significant changes in the political climate as well as the economic, investing, and insurance markets since we embarked upon what we believe have been our very successful diversification efforts,” said Barry Monheit, chairman of the board, in a press release. “We believe that separating into two independent public companies will allow each company to better align its strategic objectives with its capital allocation priorities.
“We also believe that this action will give the investment community clearer insight into the value-creation potential in each of these independent companies, ultimately driving enhanced stockholder value,” he added. “From the standpoint of our stockholders, at the time of the spinoff, the AOBC stockholders will own 100% of each company, thereby maintaining their pre-spin interest in both companies, and will thereafter have the ability to make distinct investment decisions tailored to their particular investment profile.”
James Debney, currently president and CEO of American Outdoor Brands Corp., will lead American Outdoor Brands Inc., while Mark Smith, currently head of firearms manufacturing operations, will be CEO of Smith & Wesson Brands Inc.
SPRINGFIELD — At the launch of the college’s first major-gifts campaign in more than a decade, Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) President John Cook announced the naming of the Tuohey Family Welcome Center at the Student Learning Commons.
Brian Tuohey, a generous supporter of STCC, beamed with delight after hearing the news. His family, including his five children and 12 grandchildren, made a surprise appearance at the kickoff event on Oct. 22.
“It was absolutely a total surprise,” said Tuohey, president of the Collins Companies in East Windsor, Conn. and a longtime member of the STCC Foundation board of directors and its past president.
“I have been on for 25 years, and it has been a labor of love,” Tuohey told alumni, staff, retirees, and others at STCC’s Campaign for Student Success launch event. “We’re serving a community that needs our help. That’s been my motivation.”
About 60% of the students at STCC are the first in their families to go to college. While STCC is among the most affordable higher-education institutions in the state, 70% of the students rely on financial aid.
STCC Vice President of Advancement and External Affairs Denise Hurst said the STCC Foundation’s Campaign for Student Success helps to keep STCC affordable. The foundation is seeking corporate and private-sector support as well as contributions from individuals.
“To remain an accessible option, we need support from the community to raise money for scholarships and to pay for critical student services,” Hurst said. “Our major-gifts campaign supports our mission to help students transform their lives. We provide a pathway to higher education for the Springfield community, including first-generation college students, students of color, and low-income families. Despite being the most affordable option in Springfield, many of our students struggle to pay for their education and support their families. Your help can make a meaningful difference.”
Tuohey praised STCC for the quality of education it provides the community. “Three daughters came to STCC. They pursued undergraduate and graduate degrees from other universities and colleges. They would tell you the school that cared for them and the school that taught them was STCC.”
Tuohey highlighted STCC’s focus on workforce development as another reason why he supports the college. “STCC has 98 degrees and certificate programs, and 85 of these programs prepare our students to directly enter our workforce. We need STCC.”
President Cook thanked Tuohey. “For decades now, Brian has been a quiet leader in supporting this college,” Cook said. “His generosity has been significant and a blessing to this college.”
Also speaking at the kickoff of the major gifts campaign was Elizabeth Ryan, a graduate of the mechanical engineering technology program, who said working toward her degree was not easy, but the payoff was huge.
“During those two years, I learned skills necessary to start my career as a manufacturing engineer,” she said. “I had no idea of the opportunities that I would benefit from once I started at STCC. I wasn’t thinking about attending a four-year college. In fact, I didn’t even try to apply to any despite my guidance counselor’s advice. All I knew is, I didn’t want to have tens of thousands of dollars of student debt, and I wanted to start working in an industry that I had a passion for as quickly as possible. STCC made that happen for me.”
Ryan added, “I found a career I’m passionate for and juggled working full-time and going to school. I’ve bought a two-family house at 22 years old, and started volunteering for a few different educational boards.”
Each year, STCC and its foundation give more than $1 million in scholarships to students. The foundation relies on donations to help meet the college’s mission to support students. For more information about the foundation and to make a contribution, visit www.stcc.edu/give/foundation or contact Hurst at (413) 755-4197 or [email protected].
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) has earned a Smart Energy Provider (SEP) designation from the American Public Power Assoc. for demonstrating commitment to and proficiency in energy efficiency, distributed generation, and environmental initiatives that support a goal of providing low-cost, quality, safe, and reliable electric service.
Chris Van Dokkumburg, planning analyst at Holland Board of Public Works and chair of the Energy Services Committee in Michigan presented the designations on Oct. 29 during the association’s annual Customer Connections Conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The SEP designation, which lasts for two years, recognizes public power utilities for demonstrating leading practices in four key disciplines: smart energy-program structure, energy-efficiency and distributed-energy programs, environmental and sustainability initiatives, and the customer experience. This is the first year the association has offered the SEP designation. HG&E joins a pioneering group of 60 public power utilities nationwide that received the inaugural SEP designation.
“This designation highlights utilities that are really stepping up to deliver their customers top-notch programs and services,” Van Dokkumburg said. “These utilities are going beyond keeping the lights on, and their communities should be proud.”
Added James Lavelle, manager of HG&E, “we’re honored to be recognized for our efforts to support our community’s responsible energy use. We take a lot of pride in the programs we offer that help our customers save money and reduce our collective footprint on the environment. It’s an honor to be recognized as a leader in smart energy from the American Public Power Association.”
BOSTON — Business confidence strengthened in Massachusetts last month amid signs that the state and national economies are more resilient than many experts predicted.
The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index rose 2 points to 60.9 last month, leaving it virtually even with its level of a year ago.
The October upswing was led by growing employer optimism in the Massachusetts and national economies, as well as brightening prospects for manufacturers.
The survey results came during a month when U.S. employers added a stronger-than-expected 128,000 jobs. And while the Massachusetts economy contracted slightly during the third quarter, experts say the reversal reflects workforce capacity limits rather than an economic downturn.
“U.S. hiring was unexpectedly resilient in October, and prior months saw upward revisions. It appears that consumers will extend the record-long expansion despite trade tensions and weak business investment,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA).
The AIM Index, based on a survey of more than 100 Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative.
The constituent indicators that make up the Business Confidence Index all moved higher during October. The Massachusetts Index assessing business conditions within the Commonwealth surged 4.5 points to 67.8, while the U.S. Index rose 3.1 points to 59.6. The increase left the Massachusetts reading 3 points higher than a year ago; the U.S. index has dropped by 2 points during the past 12 months.
The Future Index, measuring expectations for six months out, gained 2.2 points to 58.6, virtually even with its reading from October 2018. The Current Index, which assesses overall business conditions at the time of the survey, increased 2.0 points to 63.3, also matching its reading of a year ago.
The Employment Index rose 0.3 points for the month but remained down 2.5 points for the year, underscoring the capacity issues faced by employers struggling to find qualified workers in a full-employment state economy.
Non-manufacturers (63.4) were more confident than manufacturers (59.0), despite a strong October gain in optimism among industrial companies. Small companies (63.6) were more optimistic than medium-sized companies (60.6) or large companies (59.6). Companies in Eastern Mass. (61.2) remained more optimistic than those in Western Mass. (60.4).
Paul Bolger, president of Massachusetts Capital Resource Co. and a BEA member, said employers appear to have concluded that the slowing economy remains fundamentally strong enough to make a recession unlikely in the near future.
“Companies are also hoping that a preliminary trade agreement between China and the United States will clear up some of the uncertainty that has been causes by tariffs and an escalating trade battle,” he added.
AIM President and CEO John Regan, also a BEA member, said the persistent shortage of skilled workers constraining the Massachusetts economy underscores the need for the Legislature to pass an education-funding bill that establishes accountability for school districts to prepare students for both college and the workforce.
“The job of sustaining Massachusetts’ global leadership in innovation belongs to everyone, and that requires a thoughtful, long-range plan to maintain our competitive advantage, including our education system. The foundation of such a plan is a set of educational standards that ensure our students’ continued achievement via distinct criteria,” Regan said. “Whether Massachusetts high-school graduates choose a college track or enter the workforce directly upon graduation, we must remain vigilant and insist on relevant, high standards to provide all our students with equal access to the economic advantages that follow educational achievement.”
WILBRAHAM — Colony Hills Capital (CHC), based in Wilbraham, announced it recently purchased Windfield Senior Estates and Windfield Family Estates, a combined 160-unit multi-family apartment community located in nearby Hadley. It was purchased for $14,035,000 on Oct. 23.
Built in 2002, the property consists of 80 independent senior apartments and 80 family apartments. The property was originally developed and financed using the LIHTC (Low Income Housing Tax Credit) program and currently has income and rent restrictions on 80% of the units. The community is located just off Route 9 in close proximity to UMass Amherst. It is also within a mile of top retailers such as Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, LL Bean, and numerous restaurants and entertainment venues. Windfields also offers direct access to the Norwottuck Branch Rail Trail, part of the 104-mile Mass Central Rail Trail system.
Colony Hills Capital is rolling out a capital-improvement plan that includes upgrades and remodeling to interior resident common areas, hallways, and office areas, as well as adding exterior amenities including a dog park; additional sitting, picnic, and garden areas; and grilling stations. There will also be a complete repaving of parking areas and interior roadways. Additionally, the company plans to make the community more energy-efficient, bike friendly, and environmentally conscious.
“We are proud to own our first affordable-housing community, and appreciate the role MassHousing and Community Development played in transitioning the community from the original developers to us,” said Glenn Hanson, founder and CEO of Colony Hills Capital. “Acquiring a property previously financed by LITHC is challenging to master but rewarding to execute, and MassHousing was instrumental in our successful effort. And now our team on the ground is making a difference to our residents every day. We are also grateful to our investors who helped make our first affordable-housing investment a reality.”
Colony Hills Capital is a multi-family real-estate investment company that targets workforce, value-add investment opportunities located primarily in secondary markets in the Southeastern U.S. Since its inception in 2008, Colony and its affiliates have acquired more than 8,800 apartment in seven states.
SPRINGFIELD — On Tuesday, Nov. 19, Bulkley Richardson and Millbrook Benefits will collaborate on a panel to discuss next steps in preparing for Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave.
Mary Jo Kennedy, chair of the Employment Group at Bulkley Richardson, and Peter Miller, managing partner at Millbrook Benefits and Insurance, will discuss how current leave programs fit with PFML benefits, the pros and cons of private plans, applying for an exemption to PFML benefits, and training management on how to avoid legal liability related to new PFML claims.
The event will take place from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Bulkley Richardson’s office at 1500 Main St., Springfield. Register to attend at [email protected].
SPRINGFIELD — The Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling announced the appointment of Dawn Forbes DiStefano to its board of directors.
“Dawn is an extraordinarily talented woman who values community engagement and involvement,” said Marlene Warner, executive director of the council. “Dawn brings a wealth of knowledge on nonprofit development to the board. We’re very fortunate to have her at the table as we work to serve those experiencing problems with gambling and their loved ones, especially in Western Massachusetts.”
DiStefano is the executive vice president at Square One, where she manages contracts and annual budgeting of $9 million. Square One is a private, nonprofit organization that provides early education and care to 500 children each day, as well as a range of family-support services to 1,500 families each year.
Founded in 1983, the Mass Council on Compulsive Gambling has been instrumental in bringing the issue of gambling disorder to the attention of the public and policymakers. With the gambling landscape evolving and expanding, the council has continued to play a leading role in protecting and educating the public.
“Advocating for the community and for families, and working to ensure resources are there for those who need it most, have always been important to me,” DiStefano said. “Joining the board of the Mass Council is a natural fit. I’m excited about the opportunity to help residents in the Commonwealth.”
DiStefano received her master’s degree in public administration and nonprofit management from Westfield State University. She serves on several boards, including Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts, the Springfield Regional Chamber, and Baystate Community Relations at Westover Job Corps. In addition, she chairs the Hampden County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.
SPRINGFIELD — Bay Path University’s division of Strategic Alliances announced that producer, author, entrepreneur, educator, and, of course, top model Tyra Banks will bring her bold attitude, unique style, and well-honed business acumen to Springfield on Friday, March 27 as the keynote speaker at the 25th annual Women’s Leadership Conference (WLC).
This year’s theme, “Own Your Now,” will encourage conference guests to examine the forces that have shaped their careers, relationships, and aspirations; recognize what drives them and what holds them back; and empower them to confidently move forward. As the WLC reflects upon its 25-year history and the impending retirement of its founder, Bay Path president Carol Leary, the theme carries added significance.
“Now is the perfect time for us to really examine all we’ve accomplished over the last 25 years and to challenge ourselves by asking, ‘what can we do next?’ There’s a lot of change in the air, so there’s some intentional synergy between the conference theme, Dr. Leary’s retirement after 25 years of leading Bay Path, and the ongoing growth we all strive for,” said Caron Hobin, vice president of Strategic Alliances, Bay Path’s division of workplace education and corporate training.
Banks is the creator of America’s Next Top Model, the reality show and modeling competition that has been replicated in 47 international markets and viewed in 150 countries. A graduate of Harvard’s Executive Education program, she has taught graduate courses at Stanford University and is opening Modelland, an interactive attraction based in Los Angeles that will allow visitors to experience a fantasy version of the modeling world.
“Tyra is a remarkably driven woman with a keen ability to leverage the knowledge and experience gained in one phase of her life toward creating future opportunities for herself,” Hobin said. “We think that those who know her primarily as a model and television personality will be pleasantly surprised, thoroughly impressed, and deeply inspired by her story, her perspective, and her accomplishments.”
This year’s conference also will feature breakout sessions focused on navigating the complicated relationships, personalities, and dynamics of the workplace and the impact those have on our careers and opportunities. Sessions will be led by bestselling authors and researchers including Laura Huang, Harvard Business School professor and author of Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage; Emily Esfahani Smith, author of The Power of Meaning; Dr. Ramani Durvasula, licensed clinical psychologist and author of Don’t You Know Who I Am: How to Stay Sane in the Era of Narcissism, Entitlement and Incivility; and Jennifer Romolini, author of Weird in a World That’s Not: A Career Guide for Misfits.
For further information on the conference and to register, visit www.baypathconference.com.
SPRINGFIELD — The National Science Foundation recently awarded two grants to support research by two Western New England University faculty members — Robert Barron, assistant professor of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management, and Amer Qouneh, assistant professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering — and their collaborative partners.
Barron is a co-principal investigator on a project titled “INFEWS/T2 FEWtures: Innovation Analysis Framework for Resilient Futures, with Application to the Central Arkansas River Basin.” The project will develop strategies to promote resilient small-town and rural (STAR) communities using renewably powered fertilizer production and wastewater treatment. FEWtures will equip STAR communities to face urgent challenges such as low crop prices, high prices for energy and fertilizer, pollution, and depleting water supplies. Barron is among a team of researchers led by the University of Kansas and including Western New England University, Kansas State University, and Washington State University that have been awarded $2.5 million to craft a creative, multi-faceted set of responses to these challenges.
The focus of Qouneh’s research is “SHF: Medium: Collaborative Research: Enhancing Mobile VR/AR User Experience: An Integrated Architecture-System Approach.” This research will open the door for next-generation mobile platforms that provide high-quality, low-power applications for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). It seeks to develop a synergetic architecture-system approach to improve the user’s experience with AR and VR by addressing performance, battery life, and thermal issues. The project is a collaboration effort between Qouneh and faculty at the University of Florida and the University of Houston. The total amount of the grant is $1.1 million.
AGAWAM — CIS Abroad of Northampton was selected as the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) Employer of Choice award recipient for 2019. The award was presented at EANE’s Employment Law and HR Practices Conference luncheon at the Sheraton Monarch Place in Springfield on Nov. 7.
The Employer of Choice award recognizes companies and organizations for developing workplaces that value employees, foster engagement, invest in employee development, and reward performance. Past winners view the award as a cornerstone of their company credentials and often highlight the award in recruiting and retention, grants and funding applications, and business development. Many past winners have gone on to sit on the application review board to help select future winners of this award.
“In our present job market, employers need to consider how they’re investing in their workforce,” said Meredith Wise, president of EANE. “In order to attract and retain top-level talent, organizations need to offer more than a paycheck to their employees. CIS Abroad has demonstrated their commitment to fostering a people-focused operation, where their entire workforce knows the importance of the organization’s core values and mission. CIS Abroad has developed an employee-engagement plan that is both measurable and personally impactful for their entire workforce.”
CIS Abroad provides innovative education programs that broaden academic perspectives, promote global awareness, and encourage personal development while laying the foundation for student participants to become engaged world citizens. The passion of the CIS Abroad employees is visibly present when they talk about their programs and partners, as the lives of their employees have all been transformed by international experiences.
Employers from the Northeast who have been in business for at least three years and have a minimum of 25 employees are eligible to apply for EANE’s annual Employer of Choice award. Both the company size and its resources are considered in the screening and selection process. Entrants are judged in areas that include company culture, training and development, communication, and recognition and reward.
SPRINGFIELD — The annual Springfield College President’s Gala raised more than $500,000 for student scholarships.
More than 300 gathered on Oct. 26 at the MGM Springfield Aria Ballroom. All proceeds will go toward need and merit-based scholarships.
“The results are nothing short of extraordinary, and because of everyone’s support, we have made it possible for students to continue to choose Springfield College,” said President Mary-Beth Cooper. “We appreciate every gift from our generous community and corporate supporters and every member of our Springfield College family, including our alumni, faculty, staff, and students. Our students are truly inspirational people, and because of all of the generous donations, these funds will go toward helping the next generation of scholars. These financial contributions help to ensure that we continue to provide top-quality experiences and resources to our students so that each student has the essential tools to be successful.”
Serving on the President’s Gala planning committee were senior Alexandra Goslin, a math and secondary education major from South Windsor, Conn., who is serving as the elected 49th student trustee this academic year, and junior Kristian Rhim, a communications/sports journalism major from Philadelphia who serves as the student trustee-elect this academic year; he will continue on as the 50th student trustee starting in June 2020.
Kim Robinson, who has worked with planning and development agencies in Detroit and Nevada, has been chosen to fill the large shoes left by Tim Brennan, who recently retired as director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission after more than four decades in that position. Robinson is focused on a number of short- and long-term priorities — everything from the upcoming census to east-west rail service.
Kim Robinson says she wasn’t exactly looking to move on from her job as executive director of the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency in Reno, Nevada.
But then…
The advertisement posted on the jobs board on the American Planners Assoc. website caught her attention. And held it.
It was an ad seeking candidates to succeed Tim Brennan as executive director of the Pioneer Valley Regional Planning Commission, a post he held for more than four decades.
“ I saw this as a one-of-a kind opportunity. This seemed like a real opportunity to lead an organization that is so well thought of and has so many opportunities to help and support the 43 jurisdictions that are part of the area we serve. I could tell this was a special opportunity.”
Robinson, who moved into Brennan’s office just a few weeks ago, doesn’t recall the specific wording within that posting, but does recall what struck her eye and what prompted her to eventually move roughly 2,800 miles east.
“I saw this as a one-of-a kind opportunity, and I recognized that pretty early on in reading the job description itself,” she told BusinessWest. “This seemed like a real opportunity to lead an organization that is so well thought of and has so many opportunities to help and support the 43 jurisdictions that are part of the area we serve. I could tell this was a special opportunity.”
That area is Hampden and Hampshire counties, and those 43 jurisdictions are cities and towns as diverse as Springfield and Ware; Northampton and Longmeadow. For those communities, the PVPC, as it’s called, provides, as Robinson noted, a number of planning-related services.
Indeed, from its creation in 1962, the PVPC has been involved with everything from building bike trails to cleanup of the Connecticut River to creating the so-called Plan for Progress, a regularly updated document that has identified planning priorities for the region.
The specific list of services doesn’t go from A to Z, but rather from A to W, starting with air-quality analysis and ending with water-supply protection. In between lies everything from climate action and clean energy to housing planning and development to parking studies.
Meanwhile, the PVPC also provides what’s known as local technical assistance, or LTA, to member communities. It can take many forms, including information from the agency’s Data Center, traffic counts on local roads, and assistance with local grant applications.
Kim Robinson says one of many priorities for the PVPC, and the region, is expanding rail service to Springfield and other area communities.
It was the opportunity to be part of all that and write the next chapter in the agency’s history that prompted Robinson to go beyond reading the want ad and actively seek the position.
Since arriving, she has been busy on a number of fronts — from putting some of her own maps up on the walls of her office (like most planners, she has an affinity for maps) to meeting with many of the PVPC commissioners from those 43 cities and towns that are members; from getting a lay of the land, if you will, to setting some priorities for the short and long term.
In that first category is the upcoming national census and work to help ensure that as many area residents as possible are counted. An accurate count is important, she told BusinessWest, because the dollar figures attached to grants and assistance programs are driven by the numbers generated by the census.
“A lot of funding is derived from the census, so we obviously want as accurate a count as possible,” she said, adding that the PVPC has formed what’s known as a Complete Count Committee, or CCC, which utilizes local knowledge, influence, and resources to educate communities and promote the census through outreach efforts (more on that later).
Meanwhile, in that latter category are issues ranging from housing — specifically, the need to create more housing options, especially at the lower end of the price scale — to transportation and especially efforts to create more rail service and, in particular, an east-west line. And also something Robinson called ‘resiliency.’
This is an attribute the region and its individual cities and towns need to attain, she said, adding that there are many factors that can impact long-term resiliency, from jobs to climate change and efforts to control it.
“Resiliency is about an organization, or a community, being able to absorb changes that are kind of outside its control, whether it’s the economy or the climate or other factors — it’s the ability to be able to withstand and move forward,” she noted, adding that the goal moving forward is to make the 43 cities and towns in the region more resilient.
For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Robinson about her move across the country and what lies ahead for the region and the PVPC when it comes to planning and readying this area for what is to come in the decades ahead.
Background Discussion
Robinson brings a diverse background in planning and economic development to her new position with the PVPC, as well as experience working in different parts of the country.
Indeed, before relocating to Reno, she worked in Detroit, where she was born, starting in 1997 as a planner/administrator for the Jefferson-Chalmers District Council.
A year later, she became manager of the city’s Planning and Development Department, a post she stayed in for a full decade, an intriguing and challenging time for a city that fell into a serious spiral but in recent years has been on the rebound.
Early on in her Detroit tenure, the concept of empowerment zones was gaining traction, and Detroit was awarded $100 million for initiatives and departments.
“That provided an opportunity to do a lot of good, interesting work,” she recalled, “and there started to be a lot of growth and growth potential, and by the mid-2000s, we could really start to see the positive changes that were coming.”
Seeking a new and different challenge but in a somewhat familiar setting (she spent much of her childhood living in Southern Nevada), Robinson relocated to Reno and became Planning manager of the Washoe County Department of Community Development in 2007. Later, she would become executive director of the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency, where she addressed a number of the same challenges she will encounter in Western Mass., including housing and the need to create more options at different price points.
Meanwhile, industrial land and, more specifically, challenges presented by its development, was another of the issues she and her agency addressed.
“The largest industrial park in the country is in the county next door,” she noted, referring to the Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center, a 107,000-acre facility that is home to more than 100 facilities, including the Tesla Gigafactory 1, a massive lithium-ion-battery and electric-vehicle assembly plant. “So the conversation around competition between the two counties was a large one. Meanwhile, one of the things we saw was a large number of jobs going to that county, but not a lot of homes being built. So the Washoe County area, all 6,000 square miles of it, which includes Reno and the city of Sparks, was responsible for providing housing, schools, education, all those pieces; it was a tremendous strain on the existing infrastructure, and they weren’t getting the tax dollars from that employment.”
Strategies for addressing these issues were part of the five-year regional plan for Washoe County that Robinson helped draft earlier this year. The ink was drying as she read about the job opportunity in the Pioneer Valley.
Robinson said she enjoyed her work in Western Nevada and, as she noted, wasn’t really looking for a new challenge, but that ad on the American Planners Assoc. job board changed that. Specifically, she recalled what the PVPC wrote with regard to what it was seeking in its first new executive director since Jimmy Carter was in the White House.
“They were looking for leadership, experience, and the opportunity to get some different perspective,” she recalled, adding that she was confident she could deliver all of the above, especially that ‘different perspective.’
Indeed, Robinson said she knew little, if anything about Hampden and Hampshire counties when she applied, but was intrigued by the agency, the depth of its portfolio of services, and the chance to lead such an organization.
While getting to know the region and some of the specific communities — she’s visited a few and plans to put a considerable number of miles on her car in the weeks and months to come — and also meeting with staff and having a few conversations with her predecessor, she is getting a handle on the issues confronting them. And in many respects, they’re the same as those she encountered in Nevada and Detroit.
Moving Targets
These include renewable energy (especially solar), housing, transportation, overall sustainability, and, yes, that all-important 2020 census.
Transportation, and especially efforts to expand and improve rail service, was Brennan’s pet project and one of his enduring legacies, said Robinson, adding that she understands the importance of passenger rail service to this area and its long-term prospects and intends to continue Brennan’s advocacy for additional service.
“We’ve just recently had a huge success with the start of the Flyer,” she said, referring to expanded north-south rail service on a line that extends from New Haven to Greenfield. “That’s a palpable piece of Tim’s legacy.”
As for the potential for east-west service that would link Boston and Springfield, Robinson said she’s among many eagerly awaiting the results of the state’s ongoing study of that concept.
But rail is just part of the larger transportation picture, she went on, adding that the PVPC is in the process of updating the Regional Transportation Plan, which will include discussion of streets, bike lanes, transit, “all the ways we move in our community,” she noted.
As for the census, it is an important priority for individual cities and towns and the PVPC, said Robinson, adding that the counts do far more than help determine how many congressional districts a state has and how they are drawn.
And the Complete Count Committee plays an important role in getting the numbers right.
“A lot of funding is derived from the census, so we obviously want as accurate a count as possible.”
“These committees present an opportunity to bring together all the various folks that are impacted by, or can help to impact, the census itself,” she explained. “We bring together a wide group of people — service providers, representatives of the cities and towns, the Census Bureau — and the conversation is about how we can get the most accurate and complete count possible.”
The upcoming census is an example of the many ways the PVPC assists local communities, and it also provides that local technical assistance, said Robinson, adding that this comes in a number of forms. As one example, she cited ongoing work with Longmeadow, which has requested assistance with its open-space and recreation plan, as well as frequent requests to help communities amend zoning bylaws.
The agency is also enjoying success with — and looking to perhaps expand — what it calls ‘shared services,’ such as accounting services provided by an individual hired by the PVPC that can be made available to smaller communities, thus saving them the expense of hiring someone themselves.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to save money because they’re buying along with others,” she explained, adding that other shared services include IT help and other areas; for example, at present, Longmeadow and East Longmeadow are having discussions about sharing a health director.
Moving forward, the PVPC will continually look for new and different ways to assist member communities, said Robinson, adding that the already-deep list and the potential to add to it was one of the many aspects of this job that caught her attention.
Toward Tomorrow
As she talked with BusinessWest in one of the conference rooms at PVPC’s headquarters on Congress Street in Springfield, Robinson said she doesn’t spend a lot of time looking at the APA jobs board and wasn’t necessarily looking to leave the Reno area.
“I applied for one job,” she explained.
It was a job she continually described as a one-of-a-kind opportunity, and for a number of reasons — but especially a desire to continue a nearly 60-year track record of service to the region, one that involves keeping one eye on today and the other squarely on tomorrow, meaning decades down the road.
That’s been the PVPC story, and Robinson is excited about the prospects of writing the next several chapters.
As the nation honors those who have served on Veterans Day, BusinessWest does the same with a special section on veterans in business. It includes an in-depth look at why some companies make the hiring of veterans a priority, and why others should follow suit. But we’ll start with several profiles of individuals who have made the transition from military service to business management, and how they’re taking lessons from their years of service into the workplace.
A mom of two young children, Alysha Putnam strives to be a mentor for women of all ages in the PVWIS.
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs have historically been labeled careers for men. Those stereotypes, along with unfair treatment of women in STEM, have dissuaded many from beginning or furthering such careers. Luckily, women in STEM are becoming less of an exception, and thanks to the hard work and dedication of many colleges and organizations, women now have more resources than ever to follow their STEM dreams.
Wearing many hats is a common theme for women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.
Parent, teacher, student, and scientist are only a few that Alysha Putnam can name off the top of her head.
When speaking about her journey, she recalls it was a bumpy road, and says several female mentors helped her become the successful woman she is today.
“It was because of various key people — particularly women, actually — who believed in me despite the life challenges that I was going through, that I was able to be successful despite all the chaos,” she said.
One of these women was her master’s adviser, Paulette Peckol, who, as Putnam recalls, was very accepting of the fact that she had two young children and was flexible with her schedule.
Now, as a teaching and research assistant at UMass Amherst in the organismic and evolutionary biology Ph.D. program, she teaches classes while pursuing her research-focused doctoral degree. Throughout this journey through education, Putnam said, she has developed a strong passion for giving back in the same way she was supported.
Unfortunately, women in STEM, including moms like Putnam, have historically faced backlash, oftentimes driving them away from pursuing a career in these fields or even discouraging them from continuing to climb the ladder once they are established. But Putnam and other women in Western Mass. are using their own personal experiences to try to improve the lives of other women who are hoping to make it in these fields.
That’s why Putnam wears yet another hat: co-founder of Pioneer Valley Women in STEM (PVWIS). She and fellow co-founders Melissa Paciulli, Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh, and Michelle Rame dedicate much of their time to being a support system and connector to women either already in STEM fields or pursuing such a career. Putnam is an alumna of Holyoke Community College (HCC), Paciulli serves as the director of the STEM Starter Academy at HCC, and Rame is an HCC graduate and current engineering student at Western New England University.
One of their biggest goals is to squash many of the stereotypes that surround both women in STEM, at community colleges specifically.
“Stereotypes in STEM as a whole exist,” Paciulli said. “I think it’s important to really recognize that all people belong in STEM — people of all abilities and all races and all sexual orientations. We at PVWIS really believe in inclusivity, and through the community colleges we can provide access to a wide, diverse population for STEM, and we can really tackle that issue of diversity in STEM through our work within the region and within the community colleges.”
And they are not the only women in the area making it their goal to help women pursue and excel in these fields.
Gina Semprebon, founding director for the Center for Excellence in Women in STEM (CEWS) at Bay Path University, notes that her own experiences inspired her to start this program to help women pursuing STEM careers.
“I had a really hard time trying to break into the STEM field when I did,” she said. “It was so clear, even as a student for my graduate work, that there was bias. The males were breezing through, and the few women that were in there were not getting the help or support they needed, or were actually being thwarted.”
Fortunately, programs like PVWIS and CEWS are providing access to resources and educational opportunities for these women to follow their passion and climb the STEM ladder.
Turning Experience Into Expertise
When Susanna Swanker walked into the first day of her college internship, the women’s restroom had to be cleaned out for her because it was being used for storage.
Susanne Swanker
At S.I. Group (formerly Schenectady International), she was a chemist working on a pilot project. Aside from the secretary (whom Swanker bonded with very well), she was the only woman in her area. She remembers going to work in a hardhat and jeans while her other friends in accounting or social-services positions were getting dressed in business professional attire.
“It’s a different field, so you have to be willing to do those things,” she said. “I think sometimes maybe that’s a little off-putting or it’s not so attractive for people. But if you love the work, and I think that’s maybe where the challenge is, you get past that.”
Now dean of the School of Business, Arts, and Sciences at American International College, she is working toward refining STEM programs at the university to better fit students’ interests.
Being the only woman in a STEM room is not limited to the workplace. McGinnis-Cavanaugh said it is not unusual for her to be the only woman in the room while she is teaching engineering courses at Springfield Technical Community College.
While the percentage of female faculty in STEM programs at STCC is healthy, she said, the female student population is not so great.
Melissa Paciulli says the events hosted by the PVWIS are intended to make connections and build relationships among fellow STEM women.
Being a woman who went to community college and experienced many of the same struggles her students now face is one of the main reasons why she co-founded PVWIS and continues to teach at STCC.
“I see myself in my students,” she said. “I don’t care what anybody says — community colleges still have that stigma attached to them. ‘Oh, you go to a community college, you couldn’t get into a real college,’ that type of thing. That really bothers me because I went to a community college, so that resonates with me in a big way.”
These stigmas, she said, are an issue of equity in the community-college world, and the everyday issues women in STEM often face come back to one word: access.
Beth McGinnis-Cavanaugh
“There should be no difference between the opportunities that men and women have,” McGinnis-Cavanaugh argued. “We kept coming around to the same thing, that our students needed access. That was the word that we kept coming back to. We were trying to think of ways that we could expose them to professional women, to professional situations and professional networks.”
Bay Path’s Leadership Exploration Analysis Development program has similar goals. This 100% online initiative under the CEWS umbrella provides a certificate to early- to mid-career women in STEM fields, giving them the leadership skills they need to advance in their career.
Michele Heyward, founder of PositiveHire and CEO of Heyward Business Consulting, acts as an industry expert for the program, and says this certificate provides women with the tools they need to continue to move up the ladder in their career.
From left: Gina Semprebon, Michele Heyward, and Caron Hobin.
“Men are generally promoted based on potential, while women and people of color are promoted based on the proof that they know what they’re doing,” she said. “It is truly essential to have programs like this that are in place, active and engaging for students who are generally going to go out into a workplace where they may be the only one.”
Caron Hobin, vice president of Bay Path, partnered with Semprebon on CEWS and says stereotypes and stigmas faced by women in STEM made it a no-brainer to kick-start the program in 2013.
“I was moved by the statistics that would scream loud and clear that women were just not advancing at the same level as men,” she said. “You’re surrounded by really sharp women, and you look around and say, ‘why is this?’”
Toward a More Equal Future
The statistics speak for themselves.
According to Million Women Mentors, 75% of STEM workers are male. In addition, only three out of 12 women who graduate with a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field still work in a STEM career 10 years after graduation.
That is why programs and organizations like CEWS and PVWIS exist, and these stigmas are slowly being squashed.
“We see ourselves as being the connecting point of all these different women across the Valley and bringing them together to support each other, to share knowledge, to encourage, to uplift, to make connections, to empower,” Putnam said. “As we interact with our community-college students here in Western Mass., we are seeing incredible women of all ages coming through the community-college system who are very capable and smart and just need the support and encouragement to say, ‘yes, you can do it.’”
Environmentally friendly ideas are nothing new in the architecture and design world, but advances have come at a rapid pace — not just in how green a project can be, but how effectively the long-term cost savings justify the upfront expense. Clients want to do the right thing, design professionals say, but they’re much more willing if they can see an economic justification. Increasingly, they’re able to achieve both goals.
Sometimes design decisions bring unexpected benefits, Rachel Loeffler says.
Take a project her firm, Berkshire Design Group, designed for East Meadow School in Granby.
“Cost was a big factor, so we looked at using a meadow feed mix instead of traditional bluegrass, which saves the school 100 gallons of gasoline in mowing, as well as the labor,” said Loeffler, a principal and landscape architect with the firm.
“But then, what happened was, some birds moved in almost instantly, including some orioles.”
Orioles, by the way, are among the hundreds of bird species most at risk from climate change and destruction of meadow lands due to development, so creating a healthy habitat for them is significant, she said. “Sometimes, delightful surprises happen.”
When Northampton-based Berkshire Design Group, one of the region’s leading firms in the realm of sustainable design, opened its doors in 1984, its founders might have been equally surprised to see how common green ideas would become a few decades later.
“Back then, we were experimenting with stormwater standards, alternatives that then became state standards,” Loeffler said. “That creative approach is something that was part of us from the beginning.”
C&H Architects, headquartered in Amherst, can track a similar trajectory, emphasizing green and sustainable architecture since its launch in 1989.
“Nobody was trying to do that 30 years ago — it wasn’t even part of the lexicon,” said Thomas Hartman, partner and principal architect. “Over the years, it’s really been interesting to see how what might have been an odd-duck type of client become the norm.”
In those early years, he said, forward-thinking clients would seek out C&H specifically for this expertise, while today, green design isn’t surprising at all. “It’s gone from the occasional project to where, if this isn’t part of the conversation, you’re not really practicing in the mainstream anymore.”
In fact, he noted, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has basically shifted its organizational philosophy to suggest that, if a project isn’t environmentally conscious, if it’s not sustainable, then it’s just not good design.
“Climate change requires a holistic approach, addressing the interdependencies among people, buildings, infrastructure, and the environment,” AIA President William Bates said recently. “Our training allows us to look for solutions and ways to mitigate climate change comprehensively and creatively, which we do every day.”
At their most basic level, Hartman explained, buildings protect individuals from the elements and provide texture to people’s lives. Buildings, however, are also one of the largest contributors to global warming, accounting for nearly 40% of all greenhouse-gas emissions worldwide — a statistic expected to double by 2050. In an effort to mitigate these impacts, there has been a steady increase in sustainable architecture — the design of buildings that work in harmony with the environment.
Installing a meadow instead of grass at East Meadow School in Granby reduces gasoline use and provides a habitat for endangered birds.
C&H Architects has been at the forefront of this effort for three decades. For example, it designed the fifth-ever certified Living Building Challenge project in the world (and the first in New England) for Smith College’s MacLeish Field Station, the most rigorous performance standard for buildings available.
“It’s the most difficult standard — net-zero water, net-zero energy, avoiding certain materials and chemicals,” he said, noting that net zero means producing as much of that resource as one takes from the environment.
The firm has followed similar standards with other commercial and academic projects, and has designed more than 10 homes that boast net-zero energy, the most recent of which won the top honor at AIA Rhode Island in 2018, and includes a solar array that powers both the house and the car of its occupants.
That’s an especially cutting-edge standard, Hartman said, but it may become mainstream as well in the coming years, just as many sustainable practices in building and landscape design have become the norm, not the exception.
Holistic Approach
Loeffler said there are two ways to craft a sustainable philosophy for a project. One is to simply create a checklist of energy-saving or environmentally conscious features.
The other way of thinking actually takes cues from ecological thinking and the way all organisms are interrelated. On the simplest level, she cited the example of humans and trees — plants give off oxygen, while we breathe it in and give off carbon dioxide.
“There’s an understanding that each entity has a need for resources to consume, and has a waste product,” she said. “What sustainable thinking allows us to do is look at a project and look at ways to tie resources and waste together in a project or adjacent use somewhere else.”
Tom Hartman takes meter readings at a mill renovation in Lawrence — part of his goal to make sure energy-saving projects are performing as they are designed to.
One example is a dog park she recently worked on, during which time she approached a company that specializes in taking dog waste and turning it into energy. “Farms are taking waste from grocery stores, and any sort of organic waste products, and generating electricity. These are waste products that are being taken out of the waste stream instead of being shifted to a landfill somewhere.”
Hartman said architects, including those at his firm, are also starting to think about reductions in embodied carbon, which are the emissions associated with building construction, including extracting, transporting, and manufacturing materials.
“What that means is that we’ll be making low-carbon buildings, so we’re not adding to the carbon issue,” he said, adding quickly that this, like all new initiatives, comes with a learning curve. “In the evolution of our practice over 30 years, as soon as we get competent in one thing, we’re going to the next thing.”
Clients in the education sector have been particularly receptive to innovative ideas around sustainability, he noted, but those projects often come with time barriers.
“When you’re doing academic work, doing renovations on an existing building, they’re occupied, so you may have just a couple of weeks to do your job and have a limited budget, so how do you address environmental design and sustainable design on these types of projects?” he asked. “It comes down to the materials you’re choosing and what opportunities are available. For example, if you’re renovating a dormitory, you may only have 12 weeks, so you probably won’t renovate the exterior envelope of the building.”
“Nobody was trying to do that 30 years ago — it wasn’t even part of the lexicon. Over the years, it’s really been interesting to see how what might have been an odd-duck type of client become the norm.”
But all projects must consider their long-term impact on users, said Leon Drachmann, a principal at Payette Associates in Boston, who recently talked about sustainability on the U.S. Green Building Council website.
“The green-building initiative will have a deeper impact by expanding its scope — by shifting its focus to areas outside of building design, such as real-estate economics, zoning regulations and land use, while concentrating on the human experience and societal well-being,” he noted, adding that “sustainability should be considered not as an independent, separate process, but as an integral part of design itself.”
Dollars and Sense
One impact that can never be overlooked is the financial one, Hartman said. After all, while clients want to do the right thing, they’re still focused on the bottom line.
“I’ve never met a client where, if we could provide the economic case for doing good in sustainable design, they wouldn’t do it,” he told BusinessWest. “It’s rarer to find a client who will do the feel-good of sustainable design if it doesn’t pass the economic test.”
So part of his service to clients is actually visiting the site after completion, monitoring elements like energy use, waste production, and the overall costs to make sure the promised efficiencies have come to fruition.
“It has been really important for us to do that,” he said. “Most of the time, we want to maintain a relationship with the client in the future anyway. We will ask for energy bills. We’ve never met a client who doesn’t want us to follow up. That’s probably the most important thing for the profession — to make sure it all works, and if it doesn’t work, figure out why. Otherwise, you’re just waving your arms.”
Loeffler noted that clients that have a long-term vision are much easier to convince of the benefits of green design.
“If an organization’s economic-benefit analysis focuses on a one-year plan, they’re going to make a decision based on that — and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that,” she said. “But if their vision centers around a 20- or 50-year plan, they might be inclined to make different decisions.
“In a homeowner’s situation, with solar panels, there are upfront costs in that initial year. Over a certain amount of time, you’ll recoup those costs, but if you’re only looking at one year, you’re not going to budget for solar panels. If you’re looking at the long term, the cost makes more sense.”
The tipping point for much sustainable design and technology will come when those costs approach those of traditional methods across the board — and many in the industry say those days are getting closer. “When green materials become cheaper to acquire than previous materials, we project there will be a huge increase in the desire for this type of technology,” Loeffler said.
Until then, “we try not to push the issue too hard. We engage every client in the discussion, but they have different comfort levels. At the end of the day, we’re there to meet their needs and goals, and we work with them.”
Hartman is happy he works in a state which saw the value of renewable-energy credits and green standards well before most other states did.
“Massachusetts has been progressive, and they did those things so we wouldn’t be so reliant on fossil fuels from other countries,” he said. “It’s really exciting nowadays.”
